A Chat about the Society'* Past. 33 



things by getting rid of the faults they are only meddlers. There have 

 been many fault-finders within my own experience of the Society. First 

 come those who say that the Society does nothing to improve agriculture 

 or commerce, and therefore we should change its name to something like 

 the Georgetown Circulating Library. Then come people who say that it 

 is a " Mutual Admiration Society " and others who want it to grind some 

 particular axe. These are of no real value in any Society. 



Only once can I find that a member was expelled. This was John 

 Emery, editor of a scurrilous newspaper, who charged the Society with 

 being a " hotbed of politics." In self-defence the Society was bound to 

 take notice of such a charge. 



The most absurd fault-finder is one who continually abuses every- 

 thing but when called upon to serve on a Committee does nothing. Some- 

 times he abuses the actions of others if he is outvoted. 



Fortunately for the Society it has had quite a fair number of real 

 workers ; sometimes there are three generations. A good example 

 is the Conyers family. Charles was an original member, Francis Albouy 

 helped in building the present Reading Room and was Treasurer 

 for many years, and we have Frank as a member to-day. Such cases how- 

 ever are not numerous for many of the best workers have left the colony 

 with their families. I cannot mention even the names of those who 

 helped but I must not forget Mr. G. H. Hawtayne who started the 

 Popular Science Lectures and Mr. Darnell Davis who helped by his 

 presence on the Book Committee. Before Mr. F. A. Conyers was 

 Treasurer R. W Imlach alias " Old Blazes" held that post for many 

 years. He was certainly a " character," honest but too fond of the big D. 

 Those who knew him smiled but he certainly gave offence to strangers. 

 Mr. Luke M. Hill was a good Secretary, and did much to improve the 

 buildings. 



It must be understood that the present officers and mem bers are not 

 mentioned because their work is better known. 



Ups and Downs. 



In the seventy-three years of its existence the Society has neces- 

 sarily had its times of depression which generally corresponded with 

 those of the colony. When it started there was a gleam of hope. Six 

 years of freedom had upset the old conditions, ruin came to many of the 

 planters, but, like some other upsets emancipation was not an unmixed 

 evil. A new start was made and the Society came into existence when 

 people began to hope for better times. There were, of course, many ideaa 

 floating about as it were and some absurd projects brought forward. 

 The Society let everyone have his say and oven made experiments in tile 

 drainage and ploughing. Some of these failures were useful to preve/i 

 future mistakes, 



